Automatic weighing-scale.



. No. 888,848. PATBNTBD MAY 28, '1908.

Y I'. G. OSBURN.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING SGALE. APPLICATION FILED .18.11.21, 1807.

V provenients for the sake of clearness.

UNITED sTATEs FRANCIS o. osBoRN, oF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING-SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26,' 1908.

' Application filed January 21,1907. Serial No. 353,209.

To all whom itfmoy concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS C. OsBoRN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new'and Improved Automatic Weighing-Scale, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic scales in which thev weight of the article or person on the platform is indicated by a movable part of the scale, and the object of my imis to attach certain lsimple and easily maintained mechanism to the beam of any well known platform scale by means of which the weights on the beam will be moved .out the required distance to balance the scale.

A further object of my improvement is to provide an automatic scale in which the weight on the platform will y be indicated through the action of weights and levers, thus avoiding the use of springs.

, A further object of this invention is to provide automatic means in the form of an electric motor to move the weight along 'a scale beam until the beam balances, the currentto energize the motor being under the control of the beam.'

My invention consistsfin means to accomplish these objects and in the details of construction fully explained in the following specification and I attain the a ove objects by the construction illustrated inA the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a frontview of a scale beam provided with two slidable weights. Fig. 2 1s a'rear view of this beam showing the motors and connections for the same, part of the construction being shown diagrammatic Fig.- 3 is an end view of the mechanism, taken from the left in Fig. 1.v end of .the beam. 5 is a cross section on the line 5 5 in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Automatic scales are usually constructed with a metal spring that is flexed a greater or less extent. according to the load upon the platform. Anv indicator is mounted so as to be moved according to the flexure of the sprinU. While this type of scale o crates quicktl and when correctly adjusts may also correctly indicate the load, still the necessity of adiustment of each individual ointed out in the claims.v

Fig. 4 is a view of the opposite p pairs.

ility of the sprin to fa type of scale is `not entire y satispractical impossii all springs alike, and on f spring to fatigue yor break, and the various parts can be made accurately anism may be used with any type of platform, the beam being changed in dimensions to iit any standard scale.

Inthe drawings, the beam 1 is a dat plate of metal having two slots 2 and 3'in which are slidable the weights 4 and 5. The knife edge 6 I'ests in the upper end of the standard, and on the knife edge 7, the link S that .connects to the platform levers is hung. The

in duplicate so lthat each scale will bo operative when assembled. The beam and cooperating mechstandard 9 and link 8 may be of any desired construction. A knife edge 10 at the free end of the beam carries the counter poise 11.

The-weight 4 has a pointer that passes along the lower side of the upper graduated scale 12, while the lower welght 5 Inoves along Athelower scale 13. Vhen a load is lplaced on the platform, the upper weight runs out to indicate its weight. lf the weight is more than can be indicated on the upperl scale, the weight 4 remains at the outer end of its slot and the lower weight moves out. When the load is removed from the platform, the weight 5 rstreturns to normal position, and after that the weight 4 returns. Each weight is actuated by a small reversible electric motor, the upper weight controlling the current to the lower motor, while the position of the 'beam controls the direction of the current through the motors and also the cutting in and out of the current.

Independently mounted in the rear of 'the free end of the beam is an vupright 14 having alug 16 that projects between two lugs 16 and 17 on the beam. These lugs are all of insulating material and `have contact points in mounted two motors, 18 and 19, which are adapted to drive the screws 2O and 21 Nuts 22 and 23ers secured to the weights 4 and 5, so that the operation ofthe motors'will move the weights Inward or outward. The outer On the opposite end of the .beam are ends of the screws are mounted in the bearings 2 4 and 25.

The operation of themotors is controlled lby two switches A and B.

the mechanism is as follows Wit i a load on The o eration of the platform, the free end of the beam will rise and the contacts on the lug 17 will engage the lower contacts on the lug 15. The current from the wire 26 passes to contact 27 carried by the lug 15, thence to contact 28 on the lug 16.0n the beam; thence by wire 29 to the leaf 30 on the switchA; thence to leaf 31 thence by wire 32 to post 33 of the motor, through its windings energizing the same, to its post 34; thence by wires 35 and 36 to the Contact 37; thence by contact 38l to vwire 39 to the current source'. If the weight runs too far, the beam sinks and breaking the just followed circuit, it forms another which is as follows, from wire 26 to contact 40, to contact 41, over wire 42,t0 wire 35 thence over same to post 34 'and through the motor to post 33; thence over wirev 32 to leaf 31 of v Switch A; thence to leaf 30, down wire 43 to contact 44, contact 4.5 to wire 39 and the source of the current. The weight 5 is to be moved when the weight 4 is insufficient to counterbalance the load. This is done by the motor 19 the 'current to which is controlled by the switch A when' acted upon by the insulated lug 46 on the nut 22 of the weightl 4. Then the nut has reached the endV of its outward movement as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the' projection 46 engages the leaf 30 pressing it down out of contact with the leaf 3l and into contact with the leaf 47. The new path for the current will then be from'the wire 26 to the leaf 30 as before, thence to leaf 47, wire 48-to post 49 on the motor 19 through the motor to post 50; thence over wire 51 to the post 34 and over Wire 35 to the current source as before. When the load is removed and the beam falls, the current passes from the wire 26 to the contacts 40 and 41, wires 42 and 35 as before explained, as the path over the wire 32 is broken, the current does not pass through the motor 1 8 but over the wire 51 through the motor 19, reversing its direction, and returning the weight 5. The weight 4 would now normally remain in the outward position, the current to the motor 18 being cut out, and the weight 5 back to normal. To prevent this dead-lock I provide a short auxiliaryl circuit as follows. A wire 50 connects to the wire 43 and the leaf 51a of the switch B. The wire 54 connects to the wire 32 and the leaf 52 of the same switch. The proj ection 53 presses the leaf 52 to engage the leaf 51a when the Weight 5 and its nut 23 are in normal position. As soon as the lower Weight moves, this switch opens and cuts the auxiliary circuit. The operation is as follows;-As soon as the weight 4 reaches the end of its movement it opensthe circuit to the motor 18. When the beam falls, and the Wei ht 5 is in normal position, the current W'l pass from the wire 26 to contact 40, contact 41, over wire 42, wire 35., to post 34, through motor` 18, to post 33, over wire I 32, wire 54, leaf 52, leaf 51, wire 50, wire 43, contacts 44 and 45 and wire 39 to the current source, driving the motor 18 back and pulling the weight 4inward. As soon as the A, `weight moves, the leaves of the switch Ares'ume their normal position and the usual path is open for the current. As soon as the weight- 5 moves, the switch B is opened and the current to motor 18 is cut out.

Many other changes may be made by those skilled in the art of electric Wiring.

Having now explained my improvements, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a scale, the combination of a beam, weights independently ,movable longitudinally thereof, means tol move 'said Weights Aand means operated byone 'of said weights for controlling' the movements of the other weight.

2. In a scale, the combination of a beam, two weights slidable thereon, and means to slide said weights forward and backward, electric circuits and contacts whereby the operation of said weights is controlled by the position of the beam, and switches in said circuits operated by each ofthe weights for controlling movements of the other weight.

In a scale, the combination of a beam, weights slidable thereon, electric vmotors, screw shafts connected to said weights and to said motors, contacts carried by said beam,

stationary contacts adapted to engage the.

contacts on the beam,.circuits between the contacts and motors, switches operated by said weights, and electric auxiliary circuits to said .switches whereby the movement of one of the weights is controlled by the other and but one of the weights is permitted to move at one time.

4. In a scale., the combination of a beam, a weight slidable thereon, and an electric motor, means driven by said motor mounted on said beam and adapted to slide said weight forward and backwards, electric circuits and contacts whereby the direction of movement of the motor is controlled by the position of the beam, and a switch in the circuit of said motor and ositioned on the beam so that the switch w1ll be o )ened when the weight reaches the outer limit of its movement.

5. In a scale, the combination of a beam, weights slidable thereon, electric motors for moving each of the weights, contacts on the beam, stationary contacts mounted adjacent to the contactson the beam, .electric circuits mounted on the beam whereby currents may plurality of weights mounted thereon and cuits for said motor, and a switch mounted movable longitudinally thereof, independon said beam and operable by said weight to ently movable, means to move said welghts, limit the movement of the weight.

' and meansl whereby the. movement of'one y'In testimony whereof I have signed myother Weight. nesses.A

7; In a scale, the combination of a beam, FRANCIS C. OSBORN. aweight movable thereon, and electric motor, `Witnessesz means driven by said motor to move said E. N. PAGELSEN, loweightforward and backward, electric cir- TELIZABETH M BRoWN.

a Weight along the beam is controlled by the name inthe presence of two subscribing wit- 15. 

